On Josuha - Victorious and Faithfulness of God - Assembly Of God Church Kolkata, 29th April 2018

Josuha was the son of Nun, he was the Leader to be chosen after Moses as he followed Moses,

God encourages Joshua, as I was with my servant Moses, I will be with you too.

Meditate,
Be Faithful,
Be Doer of the Word

Assembly Of God Church Kolkata, 29th April 2018

God is Victorious and Faithful

Josuha 1:

Just after Moses (One of Israel's greatest leader passed away), there was a need for a Leader and God choose the Leader - as it was still the time where people have not started to choose "Kings" for themselves having seen the neighboring countries. There was uncertainty among people, but God knew everything. Joshua was son of nun a priest, He was Moses' Aid, He was a Warrior, He Sought after God. Joshua was not far away from Moses. He was always with Moses in the "Presence of God."

It was always the availability with obedience and not ability with impatience with God. Like Abraham who chose to go away from "Idol Worship" to where God asked him to go, obeyed to sacrifice his one and the only son - Issac. Joshua too did whatever God asked him to do. If God used Moses for deliverance, he used Joshua for Victory.

Canaan - Place of Rest
A Place of or Land flowing with "Honey and Milk"

But to attain this place flowing with honey and milk, they have to obey God.

Joshua 1:7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

Adam and Eve failed in "Obedience". A test of Faith is Obedience. Do we Obey God? 1 Sam 15:22 But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

Saul was another example of a failed Leader because of Dis-Obedience. For he dis-obeyed God and also just worried for his sins, Rather he should have obeyed and repented.

Samson is another example of a failed Leader because he too dis-obeyed and finally lost his strength and sight.

Because Moses got angry and struck the rock rather than to speak, he too was not able to enter into the "Promised Land" when he was alive.

We need to be careful to Meditate.
Joshua 1:8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Meditating has different aspects: Meditate is to "Think Deeply", "Reflect upon", "To Ponder", "To Focus", "To Aim" etc.

To Focus is to "Trust" with obedience.

Be Strong and Courageous
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

This is the encouragement that God gives, assurance for our Hope in him.

Like that of Daniel in Lion's cage, Like that of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in "Fire", When our Faith is Tested we should never get discouraged but by Trusting God and Faith in him encourages. As it encouraged David, as it encouraged many others when they were in deep trouble, it is God who by our Faith protects and saves us.

Zechariah 4:6 New International Version (NIV)
6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

2 Corinthians 8:1-12

As Paul urges to donate, he encourages by giving the example of the Macedonia, and ultimately the Example of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

God Bless.